Cleaning-machine.



H. STERN.

CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED OCT. 2, I912.

Patented May 9,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET] wzizfn eases: $016M 3669M Azzarnegs.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. b. c.

H. STERN.

CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1, 1912.

1 182 049 Patented May 9,1916.

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 37 Z 1" 3. 42 44 A I l as 32. Z 58 7 a 32 W291r$ Q as) 42 35 60 43 H H 4 1 i: I ii zo 20 5 Qjijfwea; e5 #5112 02".

' Mar/7 6 Patented May 9,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 mfw" ' flz zforwegs.

H-STERN- CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. 1912.

HE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. C.

l HEEMANSTEBN', 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

GLEANING-MACHINE msaoie. l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Applicationfiled October 7, 1912. Serial No. 724,230.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN STERN, a citi- Zen of the United States of America, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of @hio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cleaning Machines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for cleaning the seat and back cushions of car seats, andparticularly to an improvement on the appara tus shown in Letters Patent No. 603,828, granted to Gr. N. Dow and H. Stern, May 10, 1898. a I

In the patent referred to is shown an apparatus the object of which is to dispense with hand labor in cleaning the seat and back cushions of car seats, and especially during the latter portion of the operation of cleaning such cushions by a process known as the French process. In the practice of this process the coverings of the cushions are first thoroughly dusted and then saturated with a solution which loosens up the dirt on the fibers of the fabric which forms the coverings ofthe cushions. The solution, or a large portion thereof mixed with the loosened dirt remains on the surface of the cushions, and the apparatus shown is particularly designed for removing this solution together with the loosened dirt with thoroughness and despatch.

The object of the present invention is to provide in an apparatus of this character new and improved means for supporting,

shiftingand adjusting a cushion so that it can be readily operated upon and new and improved means for supporting the brush ing devices so that they can operate on the surface and also on'the sides of a cushion.

Withqthe intention of securing these and other advantages, which will hereinafter appear, this'invention consists in a certain new and improved arrangement'and combination.

of parts, the preferred form of which is hereinafter described in the specification, especially pointed out in the claims and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isa top plan view of the supporting, carrying and adjusting mechanism for the cushions. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus showing the supporting, carrying-and adjusting mechanism for the cushions. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 1, Fig. 1 is a section on line -l. l, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5, Fig. 3.

Again referring to the drawings, 10 represents the base of the machine which consists of an open frame. This base 10 is supported on wheels 11, and the said wheels are adapted to have traction on rails 12 which are rigidly mounted on any suitable surface. On top of the base 10 are rigidly secured rails 13 which are preferably circular in" cross-section, and the said rails are arranged on said base 10 so that they extend trans versely of and at a right angle to the supporting rails 12 of the said base. The ends of the said rails are turned up, as at 14: to form stops. On the said rails 13 is mounted a carriage consisting of a horizontally arranged rectangular frame 15 which is supported on wheels 16 which have traction on the said rails 13. It will therefore be understood that the base of the apparatus is freely movable on its supporting rails and the said carriage is freely movable on the said base but transversely of the path of the said base. On the upper surface of each side member of the said carriage frame 15 is'formed a small tongue 18, and on each of said side members of said carriage frame is mounted a vertically arranged side plate 19 which isprovided in its bottom edge with a groove 20 adapted to receive the tongue 18 on the upper surface of said supporting side member of the frame so that the said plates 19 are free to slide on the said supporting side members of said frame. The

said side plates 19 are connected by a cross-' member21 in which is formed an opening 22, andon the inner face of said cross-member 21 is arranged a hub 23 which ispro vided with a screw-threaded bore 21 in line with said opening 21. On the carriage frame is mounted a small standard 25, and A screw 27, having a thread corresponding to in said standardis formeda bearing 26.

the screw-thread in the bore 241 in the hub 23, is passed through said bore and the inner endthereof is secured in the bearing 26 in thesald standard 25 by means of collars" 28 which are rigidly secured onthe end of said screw so that said screw is held against.

110 on the outer end of thesaid screw ji sarranged'a head -29.-' It will therefore be 1111- longitudinal movement but is free to turn.

derstood that by turning the said screw the said side plates can be caused to move back or forth longitudinally of said carriage frame. The upper edge of each of the said side plates 19 is provided with a pair of 1nclined surfaces, shown at 30, which areparallel' with each other.

32 represents a table which is provided with two downwardly extending members 33.

These side members are spaced the same discarriage frame.- Now, when the side plates 19 are caused to move in on the carriage frame by the operation of the screw as before described, the inclined surfaces thereof will of course move in under the inclined surfaces of the side members 33 which are secured to the table causing said members to move up and thereby raising the table, and similarly when the said plates 19 are drawn out the side members carried by the table will move down, thereby lowering the table and therefore the position of the table can be readily adjusted by operating said screw.

In order to hold the cushion on the table while being operated on positioning bars are arranged on the table near the edges thereof, as shown at 37, and the said bars are ad'- justably secured to the table by means of pins 38 which fit into holes 39 formed in the surface of the said table.

At the center of the table 32 is formed a small opening 42 and on the under side of the table is secured a mounting 43 which has a vertically arranged opening in line with the opening, in the center of said table. A plate 44 is provided which is arranged to rest on the top of the table, and the table is preferably recessed so that the said plate fits down flush with the surface of the table. From the center of the said plate a stud 46 extends downwardly through the said mounting 43 and the said stud is provided with a series of circular teeth 47 which form a rack all around the said stud. In the said m0unting 43 is journaled one end of a shaft 48, and the other end of said shaft extends through and is journaled in a hanger 49 which is secured at the outer edge of the table. On the inner endof said shaft 48 is secured a pinion 50, and the teeth on said pinion are arranged to engage with the circular rack teeth 47 on the stud 46. On the outer end of said shaft 48 is rigidly secured a lever arm 51. This lever arm 51 carries a pivoted thumb latch 52 which at one end carries a pin 53 which slides in an opening 54 in the hub of the said lever arm, and the inner end of said pin is arranged to extend into sockets 55- formed in the hanger 49. It will be readily understood that when the said pin 53' is in one of the said sockets 55 the said lever arm will be locked against movement. A spring 56 is preferably provided for holding the thumb latch in its operative position. The operation of this portion; of the mechanism-is as follows :After the surface of the cushion has been cleaned, in order to get the cushion in the proper position to be operated upon by the vertically arranged side cleaning brush which will hereinafter be described, the lever arm 51 is pressed downwardly thereby rotating the pinion 50 on the inner end of the shaft 48, and the said pinion being in engagement with the circular rack-teeth on the stud 46, which sup ports the plate 44, the said plate will be shoved upwardly thereby carrying up the cushion and exposing the sides of the cushion so that they can be easily operated on. After the plate has been raised the desired height, the lever arm is locked against movement thereby preventing any downward movement of the plate, but the plate is free to rotate around a verticalaxis, for asbefore described the said rack-teeth 47 are circular, and therefore after one side of a cushion has bee-n cleaned the plate is rotated to bring another side in line with the vertically arranged brush and so on until the four sides are cleaned. In order to prevent the rotation of the plate while the sides of the cushion are'being cleaned, the follow ing arrangement is provided,a series of slots 58 are formed in the stud 46 and are equally spaced around the circumference thereof. In the said mounting 43 is slidably arranged. a pin 60, the inner end of which is adapted to extend into the said slots .58, and to the outer end of said pin is opera- 110 tively secured a rod 61. A spring 62 is connected with said pin 60 and to the said mounting 43 and the tension thereof acts to normally hold the said pin in one of said slots 58, and of course when the said pin is in one 115 of said slots the said stud 46 is locked against rotary movement.

Above the supporting and adjusting apparatus is arranged a driving shaft 69 in suitable hangers 70, and on the end of said driv-. ing shaft is secured a driving pulley 70. From said shaft 69 are hung brush supporting arms 71, and in the lower ends of said arms is rotatably mounted a shaft 72. On said shaft 72 is secured a horizontally ar- 125 ranged rotary brush 74 and a driving pulley 75. A belt 76 connects said driving pulley 75 on the brush shaft with the pulley 7 0 on the driving shaft 69. A vertically arranged hanger frame 78 is hung from any suit-V 3 able support, and in said hanger frame is mounted a vertically arranged shaft 80,

the lower end of which is rotatably supported in the bottom member of said frame, and the upper end of said shaft is rotatably supported in a cross member 79. On the said vertically arranged shaft 80 is secured a vertically arranged rotary brush 81. p A pulley 82 is secured on said vertically arranged shaft 80-and said pulley is connected with any suitable driving means (not shown).

The operation of the device is as follows: The cushion which is to be cleaned is placed upon the table and as the cushions vary in thickness the table is raised or lowered in the manner before described so as to bring the cushion to the proper height to be readily operated upon by the horizontally arranged rotary brush. The carriage on which the table is mounted is then moved back and forth under the brush enabling the brush to operate on all portions of the surface there of. After the surface of the cushion has been cleaned, the center plate is raised in the manner before described elevating the cushion and exposing the sides thereof. The table is then run back and forth with one side of the cushion in contact with the vertically arranged brush, and after the said side has been cleaned the said plate is turned so as to bring another side into position to be operated upon by the said verti-.

cally arranged brush and so on until the four sides have been cleaned.

What I claim is 1. In a cleaning machine for the seat and back cushions of car seats, the combination with a horizontally arranged rotary brush and a vertically arranged rotary brush, of a table movable transversely and longitudinally relative to said brushes, said table being adapted to receive a cushion, means ar ranged on said table for forming a support for said cushion and'means for raising and lowering said support.

2. In a cleaning machine for the seat and back cushions of car seats, the combination of a carriage, a table mounted on said carriage and vertically adjustable thereon,a plate mounted above said table and provided with a stud which extends down through said table, said stud being provided with a rack, a pinion mounted below said table in engagement with the rack on said stud and means for actuating said pinion.

3. In a cleaning machine for the seat and back cushions of car seats, the combination with a carriage, a table on said carriage adjustable vertically relatively to said carriage, a plate mounted on said table and adjustable vertically relative to said table and also rotatable thereon and a series of brushes supported in proximity to said table and arranged so that the cushions carried by said table can be brought in contact therewith by the movement of the said carriage and the vertical adjustment of the said table and said plate.

4. In a cleaning machine for the seat and back cushions of car seats, the combination of a table, a plate arranged on top of said table, a stud extending down from said plate through said table, said stud being provided with circular teeth which form a rack thereon, a shaft extending under said table, a pinion mounted on the inner end of said shaft, a handle secured to said shaft for rotating the same, a latch carried by said handle for locking the said handle against movement and means adapted to engage with the stud for locking the said plate against rotation. V

In testimony whereof, I sign the foregoing specification, in the presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN STERN.

Witnesses o B. B. BRO N, V. (l. LYNCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for'five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

